The Credit System
It's sad but true. A
large percentage of Americans suffer from a blemish on their credit
reports. A blemish that prevents them from obtaining new credit when
they need it most. Bad credit is embarrassing, humiliating, and
depressing because most credit ors believe a bad credit report dictates
a persons worth and value as a responsible human being.
Most people with bad
credit are not "deadbeats" nor are they unwilling to pay their
obligations. In fact, if your like most people, you probably maintained
a good credit profile until an unforeseen circumstance like a layoff,
medical problem, or divorce prevented you from making a few payments in
a timely manner.
The truth is that most
people struggle long and hard to meet their obligations but the money
coming in just doesn't meet the bills going out. If you find yourself in
this type of situation, you must be very careful and selective about
which bills get paid. If the circumstances become serious enough, you
may even have to file for bankruptcy protection.
You are not alone.
You're not the first person to decide to put food on the table or keep
the electricity on rather than paying a credit card bill. You can be
sure that most people would rather protect their family and their loved
ones first, and then pay their creditors. Even the collection agents,
the ones that call and 0harass other people about their obligations,
would certainly protect themselves first if faced with the same tough
decision.
Now, by knowing,
understanding and utilizing your legal rights you can begin taking the
steps of regain the good credit you once had and reward yourself with
the confidence necessary to rebuild your financial independence and
freedom. Of course you must protect your new credit report with honesty,
integrity, and common sense.
So, as you begin your
journey to establish a new credit report, I would first ask you to stop
feeling guilty about your previous inability to pay your creditors. It
may or may not have been your fault. That is and will remain in the
past. Look forward to a new start, new credit report, and a new chance.
As publishers, we are
not engaged in giving any legal or accounting advice. If you desire and
want professional legal advice, please go to our Legal Services Page to
get the legal representation you need at a price you can afford.
Introduction
Unfortunately today, we
live in a society that determines our net worth and value as a human
being by the type of credit file we have. If your credit report is good,
chances are you will receive and partake of some of the better things in
life. But the opposite couldn't be more true if your credit report is
bad. There are very few creditors who will extend good credit to people
with bad credit.
But what if it wasn't
your fault? What if you had to make the simple choice between eating and
making your car payment? What if a job lay-off, a medical emergency, or
some other personal crisis prevented you from making a timely payment?
Should you be forced to pay for this for the next seven to ten years?
The credit bureaus are
judge and jury in relation to your credit file. But there is one
difference. A judge will at least give you the chance to defend yourself
in court before passing judgment. And in America we are SUPPOSED to have
a chance to face our accusers BEFORE judgment is passed. This is
entirely untrue when it comes to your credit file.
The truth is that your
creditors and the credit bureaus have been swapping information about
you behind your back for a long time. You are not asked or given any
benefit of defense when this happens. It is in effect legal gossip!
The system, as it stands
today, does not give you the opportunity to defend yourself before
inscribing your credit file with negative information, even if it is not
yours! You must prove to them that the negative information on your
credit file is incorrect, invalid or otherwise erroneous before they
will remove it. That means in their eyes, you are GUILTY until proven
INNOCENT.
You might wonder how a
system like this is allowed to operate in our DEMOCRACY, in a country
where we've been brought up to believe that a person is innocent until
proven guilty. Why aren't we extended some courtesy by the credit
bureaus? Why don't they give us a chance to defend ourselves before
placing negative information on our credit files?
Good questions, aren't
they? You may not like the answer though... THEY DON'T HAVE TO! The
credit bureaus are private companies and corporations. They are in
business to make a profit. And that profit comes from one place and one
place only: YOUR CREDITORS.
Your creditors pay to
see your credit file information and believe it to be true and correct.
They also reciprocate by exchanging your credit information with the
credit bureaus. So... your creditors pay the credit bureaus and the
credit bureaus are in business to make a profit. Where do you fit in?
You don't.
Unfortunately you are
just another number in the vast data bank of numbers. Your credit report
and the information it contains are not important or of any consequence
to anyone but you. That's why you are the only one that can do anything
about it.
Well my friend, that's
why I put this information together and developed this unique program. I
have seen too many people destroyed by the credit reporting system. I
have watched helplessly by the wayside as their credit files were
corrupted and their self dignity was destroyed in the process.
So many people with poor
credit have done their best to make timely payments but couldn't because
of a personal problem or another. Should they pay for this both
financially and emotionally for the next seven to ten years? I don't
believe so. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. I believe that
you deserve a second chance, no matter what the previous circumstances
were. Put those problems behind you now. It's time to move on and
re-establish a good credit file.
YOU CAN remove past
negative information it will take time and tenacity. The process is
simple but it's not easy. It will take some work on your part, but if
you're serious about getting a second chance, you won't mind.
Congratulations! You are
about to take the final steps necessary to begin a brand new life with
good credit! Study the material, use the information and get a new
start!
A Few
Comments On Credit Repair Companies
Over the past fifteen
years or so, many "Credit Repair Companies" or "Credit Clinics" have
opened up across the nation. Their main purpose is to help the
individual remove incorrect and negative items from their credit report.
Unfortunately, some of these outfits are scams from the word "GO" and
have given the whole industry a bad name. They take the consumer's money
and then tell them it will take month s to get results, then disappear
without a trace. With the information we have provided you with here,
you have no need to take that chance. If, however, you decide to hire
one of these companies, check them out!
First, if the sales
person or company uses the word "Guarantee" or "Delete", Run and don't
look back! There is no way to "Guarantee" that ANYTHING will be removed
from the credit report! Think about it for a minute. Unless he or she is
going to "hack" into the credit bureau's computer, how can he guarantee
anything? The Clinic is NOT the one that "deletes" the information!
Ask to see their
license, get a copy of it, and then contact your State's Secretary of
State to make sure that the company has obtained and maintained the
necessary license and/or bond. In the State of Nebraska all companies,
organizations, or individuals that provide credit services MUST (with NO
exceptions) obtain a "Credit Services Organization License". If they
charge a fee BEFORE they provide the services they promise, they MUST
also maintain a $100,000 Surety Bond for TWO YEARS after they cease
doing business in the state. While you are on the phone with the
Secretary of State's office, ask if there have been any unresolved
complaints against the company. Find out how long they have had their
license as well.
There have been a number
of credit clinics that guarantee to remove any derogatory items from
consumer's credit report.
Contact the Attorney
General's office in your state as well, see if there have been any
complaints and find out if they are under any kind of investigation. The
Better Business Bureau is also another good organization to check. My
company wasn't just LISTED with the BBB, we where actually members of
the organization as well.
If the firm tells you
that you can not take a day to think about it or that it is a 24 hour
offer tell them to take a hike! They where trying to scam you! Tell them
that you want a copy of the contract you will be signing and any
disclosures so that your attorney can take a look at it. If they balk,
again, good for you, you just flushed out another con-artist. Call the
Attorney General to have them investigated so no one else will fall into
their trap! To have unlimited contracts reviewed by an attorney, and
tons of other legal services, please visit our Legal Services Page.
For five years I owned
and operated a company here in Omaha that not only assisted individuals
and families re-establish their credit reports and obtain new forms of
credit; but we also helped establish a budgets, and save money. The last
two items were more important than the first two! If nothing else, TIME
will repair a damaged credit report. But without the proper savings and
budgeting, the smallest disruption in an individual's cash flow will
destroy the BEST credit report. In fact, the "better" the credit, the
more potential for damage there is!
I will encourage you to
go to your local book store and obtain a book on budgeting. Talk to a
family member, friend, or clergyman to get help on setting up and
sticking to a budget. One of the reasons people run into the credit
situations they do is because when the emergencies hit, there is nothing
to fall back on. Don't let it happen again! Protect your good credit and
your good name!
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